2014 NFL Draft: Prospect Interview – Ryan Shaw, FS Arkansas-Pine Bluff
By Peter Smith
Dec 8, 2012; Birmingham, AL, USA; Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions celebrating with the championship trophy after winning the SWAC Championship a Legion Field. The Golden Lions defeated the Tigers 24-21 in Overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
A year after winning the SWAC Championship and having offeisnive tackle Terron Armstead was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft, Arkansas Pine-Bluff is hoping to follow it up with another great year on the field and when it comes to sending talent to the NFL. Their talented free safety Ryan Shaw is hoping to have even more success than his teammate did and talks about his career so far and some of the truly remarkable games he has been a part of in his young career.
Peter Smith: How did you end up at Arkansas-Pine Bluff?
Ryan Shaw: I didn’t play my 10th grade year in high school, so really I didn’t gain any exposure. I was okay in 11th grade. 12th grade, I was real good. I got scouted by a few SEC schools but nobody offered me. It was out of UAM (University of Arkansas at Monticello), UAPB, and UCA (University of Central Arkansas). Basically, my family wanted me to go to a black college and get that experience and just try it, so that’s how I ended up there.
PS: What was the reason your family wanted you to go to a black college as opposed to the others that offered?
RS: My family really wanted me to learn about my black heritage, have black pride, get some teachers in places that I probably couldn’t get in another university.
PS: With that, do you have a grasp on the history of the SWAC and its impact on the NFL?
RS: Yea, I know in early SWAC history there were a lot of greats to come out: Jerry Rice, Michael Strahan, Steve McNair. There were a bunch of great SWAC players to come out.
PS: Is there anyone that you specifically look up to from the SWAC or the small school ranks? Or anyone in general?
RS: Not really from the SWAC, but I like to look up to players like LSU, my team. Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu; they are my type of players.
PS: Your first love was basketball, so when did you realize that football was your future?
RS: When I got to 11th grade basketball, we didn’t have a really good season and in football, they were always good, conference championships. I figured I’d give it a try and my 12th grade year; I actually did really good in football, so I said I would make that my career; started from there.
PS: If you had stuck with basketball, how far do you think you could have taken it?
RS: If I would have stuck with basketball, honestly, in the spot I was in and our team, I wouldn’t have made it far past high school, actually, because we don’t get too many recruits in our area. I guess we don’t really get that many recruits in general. Football is like the bread winner for our state.
PS: Any thought to try and play basketball at Arkansas-Pine Bluff?
RS: In my freshman and sophomore year, there were a couple guys at the school and on the football team trying to get me to play, but I saw the bigger picture and saw football as my opportunity, make it to the NFL, and stuck with football.
PS: Since most people do not see many SWAC games, break down your game
RS: I feel like I have an all-around game. I can come down in the box and I can make tackles; I’m a sure tackler. I am very athletic. I can cover wide ranges from the free safety position. I’m versatile; I can play like a rover linebacker, I can play the free, the strong, and I can also line up at cornerback. I feel like I have an all-around game. I have good ball skills, coverage ability, tackling ability, intelligence on the field. I’m an all-around player. I’m a 6’1” LeBron James.
PS: Have you gotten any looks at corner?
RS: I have a couple scouts and agents say they feel like I’d be pretty good at it and I played a little bit of it this spring and last spring. I played it a couple times during the games in goal line situations. My teammates, coaches, and people think I can really play cornerback.
PS: Are you going to get a look at corner this year or basically stay full on free safety?
RS: They are going to give me a look. We already talked about it; to showcase my skills. So you can expect me to play some corner this year and kickoff returning. I’ll be doing kickoff returns this year.
PS: Explain in your words how the SWAC Title game against Jackson State went?
RS: The SWAC Title was a game of perseverance, keeping the faith in God because it was a struggle. They jumped out on us early and remained there until the end of the game. People thought it was over; everybody started giving up, like the fans, but our team never gave up. We always persevered, because our coach always told us to keep the faith. God was on our side and God came through for us in the closing moments.
PS: For people who do not know, Jackson State gets out to a 21-7 lead in the first half before Arkansas-Pine Bluff recovers a fumble and takes it back to the end zone with 4 seconds left in the half to make it 21-14. In the second half, the APB defense holds Jackson State to about 80 total yards and with 2 minutes left to go, APB throws a 95 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21, which goes to overtime. In OT, the APB defense holds Jackson State to a long field goal attempt and blocks it before the offense gets the ball, goes down and kicks a short field to win the game and the conference championship.
Is that the best game of your life in your football career? How do you top it?
RS: Yea, that was the biggest game of my life, because it was just a game of perseverance. We really had to fight for victory, so it made the win that much better and that much more exhilarating. This year, we plan to go even higher. Last year, we went 10-2, national black college champs, SWAC champs. This year, we’re looking to go undefeated. Our first game against Arkansas State, we’re looking to shock the world and beat them, so I feel pretty good. I feel like this year is going to top last year with an undefeated season is where I’m looking to go; undefeated.
PS: You mentioned it; Arkansas State. First game of the year. What does that game represent for your team?
RS: That game means a lot. That game shows that we are serious at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and we need our respect. We never beaten Jackson State since I’ve been here until last year and we won the SWAC Championship, so I think some people believe we’re still not there yet, so we want to show the world we are here; Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
PS: After winning 11 total games your first two years, what did winning 10 and the SWAC Championship mean to your team and then you individually?
RS: It meant a lot, because you know, like you said, we only won 11 games in my first two years and it was a struggle. We were at the bottom and made it all the way to the top. It just made everybody feel like all that hard work, time, effort and grinding all these years finally paid off; finally starting to get recognized.
PS: What comes to mind when you think about the game against Southern your sophomore year?
RS: Survivor game. It was just a big rivalry. Both teams laid it out on the field. Tempers flared, people got heated, and what happened, happened (post game brawl). That is in the past. That doesn’t really reflect our character. That’s not really what type of team we are, but it happened. It’s over and we are just trying to move past it.
PS: Is there anything you wish you could have done differently with the brawl and everything that went down with that, looking back on it?
RS: Yea, I wish I wouldn’t have let my mind go and just take over and reacted the way I acted. I wish I would have stopped, thought about the after effects and not even participated in it. It was all a part of maturing though and the growth of me. Now, if it was to happen again, I would be more prepared to walk away from the situation.
PS: Are you able to think about the game at all or is just all about what happened after the fact?
RS: No, it was a nice game. We fought real hard. They were a good team in the SWAC at that point in time and that was a win to help us get our confidence up to keep us moving forward. It was a close race at the time in the SWAC Western Division, so it was a big win for us at the time, but with all the suspensions and whatnot, it was a big loss in the end.
PS: What have you taken away from Terron Armstead’s experience of going through the draft process last year with him going in the 3rd round?
RS: What I take from that is knowing that dreams do come true. No matter what situation or circumstance you’re in, it’s possible for you to get out of it. Just keep God first, stay humble, work hard and believe in what you want to become, God will make it happen for you. He showed his faith with his hard work and he’s a humble. He’s a very humble guy. It just shows me that anything is possible.
PS: With what he went through and seeing what he went through, do you feel more confident or less confident that you can make the jump did?
RS: I feel very confident knowing that the process he had to go through and the type of player he was. I feel like I’m the same caliber player. He set the record for the O-linemen. He’s a fast linemen and I feel like I’m a fast safety/cornerback/athlete. I feel like I’ll be able to do the same thing. I’m very confident. I believe in my talent. I know my hard work, my talent, and humility will get me where he is.
PS: What are the New Orleans Saints getting in Armstead?
RS: They’re getting a hardworking, athletic freak. And he’s not just an athlete; he’s a real good football player. He’s smart out there on the field. He works hard and he is humble. So, they are getting an all-around good guy, good teammate, and a great football player.
PS: With the attention he received at Pine Bluff, did you get some feelers from NFL teams?
RS: We got a whole lot of attention. Our DEnd, Brandon Thurman, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons. A couple other players signed with some other teams. They are definitely came back and still coming back to see what the next big thing is out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, so he definitely help us get attention from NFL teams.
PS: What do you think you need to do this year to make sure you get drafted?
RS: I think I just have to play consistently. On the field, just be focused and do my assignment at all times. Be a leader on the field and make plays. I have to make plays. Making plays gets you there and that’s what I’m planning on doing; making plays.
PS: What are we going to be saying about Ryan Shaw in 11 months?
RS: Y’all are going to be saying this is a fantastic athlete, an all-around guy, he’s very versatile. Competition isn’t a factor with this guy and he should be drafted as high as the first round.
No one can argue that Shaw is not dreaming big and if he goes in the first round, he will be the first small school player to do since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie when he was selected in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals from Tennessee State and Joe Flacco was picked out of Delaware. In the mean time, Shaw and the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine-Bluff will attempt to beat their in-state D-1 opponent, Arkansas State, week 1 and then attempt to defend their title and go back to back as SWAC Champions. It can be difficult to find SWAC games to watch, but he could be a name to keep an eye on in the post-season All Star games and if they can shock the world, he will have been a part of it.